Karachi is expected to experience a noticeable drop in temperature from January 4–5, with the mercury likely to fall to single digits, according to a forecast issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Wednesday. The development could mark one of the coldest spells of the ongoing winter season for the coastal city.
Read More: Winter rain brings cooler weather to Karachi
PMD Deputy Director Anjum Nazeer said that a series of western weather systems has been affecting different parts of Pakistan since December 29. These systems brought light rainfall to Karachi, with the highest recorded precipitation of six millimetres in the Kemari area, he added.
The official noted that rainfall activity in Karachi has now largely subsided. However, the impact of the recent weather system is expected to linger, as changes in wind patterns may further intensify cold conditions across the city in the coming days.
According to the PMD, the western winds influencing the region are likely to shift eastward soon. This transition will allow cold Siberian winds to dominate, resulting in a sharper drop in temperatures, particularly during the early morning and night hours in Karachi.
Meanwhile, the meteorological department has forecast rain accompanied by wind and thunderstorms, along with snowfall over hilly areas, in parts of northern Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, Islamabad, and Punjab during the next 12 hours. Cold and cloudy conditions are also expected to prevail in other regions of the country.
Fog patches are likely to persist over the plain areas of northeast and southern Punjab, as well as upper Sindh, especially during morning and night hours, potentially affecting visibility and travel conditions.
Temperatures recorded in major cities on Wednesday morning showed a clear contrast across regions. Islamabad and Muzaffarabad recorded eight degrees Celsius, Lahore nine, Karachi 20, Peshawar 10, Quetta three, Gilgit six, and Murree four degrees Celsius.
Read More: Karachi records coldest morning of winter as temperature drops
In parts of Indian-administered Kashmir, Srinagar, Pulwama, and Shopian recorded zero degrees, while Leh experienced extremely cold conditions at minus nine degrees Celsius, reflecting the broader regional cold wave.